In a rare gesture during a tumultuous parliamentary session, Conservative foreign affairs critic offers his party's help to expedite the passage of the Liberal government's foreign interference bill.

Earlier this month, the federal government introduced Bill C-70, which aims to limit foreign interference in Canadian politics.

Conservative MP Michael Chong wrote in a letter to Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc: "As the general election approaches, time is running out to build trust in our elections."

"Conservatives will work in good faith to ensure the swift progress of Bill C-70 through the House of Commons while ensuring adequate scrutiny of the bill's measures."

Chong proposed in his letter to move a unanimous consent motion at the end of the debate on the second reading. If adopted, he wrote, this motion would allow the bill to pass quickly through the House of Commons and through committee, "allowing sufficient time to implement safeguards against foreign interference before the election."

Bill C-70 would introduce new foreign interference offenses, change how the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) applies for orders, and update the rules regarding who CSIS can brief and launch the long-awaited foreign influence transparency registry.

The government introduced the bill days after a public inquiry that investigated allegations of interference in the elections, stating that while foreign interference did not affect who formed the government in 2019 and 2021, it undermined voters' right to a free and fair electoral ecosystem.

Judge Mary Josée Hogue, who oversees the inquiry, stated that foreign interference undermines public confidence in Canadian democracy.

She wrote in her initial report: "This may be the greatest harm Canada has suffered as a result of foreign interference."

Chong wrote that the government has been slow to introduce legislation to address a known issue.

"Inaction and delay cannot continue," he said. "The government and the official opposition must work together to ensure the protection of our institutions and democratic elections from the threats of authoritarian states."